Becoming a childminder

This guide is for people interested in becoming a registered childminder in Harrow.

1. Key Documents for Prospective Childminders
2. Pre-registration online with Pacey and English Language
3. Complete home based specific childminding training course
4. Preparing your home or childminding premises
5. Childminder With Non - Domestic Premises
6. Additional Key Training to complete for a childminder
7. Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application form 
8. Health declaration booklet
9. Childminder Application
10. Support paperwork to help with your Ofsted Registration visit
11. Public Liability Insurance (Cost variable)
12. Ofsted Registration Visit
13. You are ready to childmind
14. Harrow Families Information Service (FIS)
15. Working with parents
16. H. M. Customs & Revenue
17. The Inspection visit
18. Registering with a childminder agency
19. Childminder Start Up Grant Scheme from September 2023
20. Other considerations

1 Key Documents for prospective childminders

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The EYFS is a single framework that sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five years. The document is mandatory for all childcare providers registered by Ofsted, including childminders. You will need to fully understand the EYFS and put it into practice. The EYFS Framework can be accessed by visiting: Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Child Development

In conjunction with having a good knowledge of the EYFS, you should have an understanding of child development. To support you with this we recommend reading ‘What-to-expect-in-the-EYFS-complete-FINAL-16.09-compressed.pdf (foundationyears.org.uk)’

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2 Pre-registration online with Pacey and English Language

Visit Pacey online and sign up for the online pre-registration meeting.

This will provide an overview of the process of becoming a childminder and taster of the role: Pre-registration information | PACEY Childminding taster briefing | PACEY

Competent in English (spoken, reading and writing)

You must have sufficient understanding and use of English to ensure the wellbeing of children in your care. For example, you must be in a position to keep records in English, to liaise with other agencies in English, to summon emergency help, and to understand instructions such as those for the safety of medicines or food hygiene.

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3 Complete home based specific childminding training course

Preparing to work in Home-based Childcare HBCA training must be completed before you can register with Ofsted. This course will enable you to understand how to set up a home-based childcare service and can be accessed from: PACEY Preparing to work in home-based childcare. Alternatively you can complete a local college based L3 HBCA. We recommend you contact Stanmore College (Stanmore College) for further details.

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4 Preparing your home or childminding premises

You will need to prepare your home to ensure it meets the EYFS requirements, so consider:

• where children will play, eat and sleep
• good standards of hygiene and cleanliness
• kitchen and cooking facilities
• general safety
• outdoor play

• provide a balance of adult-led and freely chosen or child-initiated activities, delivered through indoor and outdoor play
• undertake sensitive observational assessment in order to plan to meet young children’s individual needs
• plan and provide experiences which are appropriate to each child’s stage of development as they progress towards the early learning goals

Before submitting your application to Ofsted please note the following. All applicants must complete a DBS check online. Anyone aged 16 or above who works or lives on your premises is connected to your application. They must also complete a DBS. It is recommended that you join the DBS update service. 

• The DBS website provides guidance on applying for a criminal record check. Applicants must only use this service if they wish to apply for the childcare roles as set out in this guidance.
• Applicants must have a DBS certificate number and register with the update service. This must be done within 19 days of the date the DBS application number is issued. Ofsted will not accept your application without a DBS certificate number. Neither will they accept it if you haven't subscribed to the update service. Each person must arrange to have their identity documents checked. This is in accordance with the guidance on the website.
• If the applicant has lived abroad in the past five years they must disclose the countries they have lived in. Anyone else connected with the application must do so too. They can do this on the application form or declaration and consent form.
• Where there is no reciprocal arrangement with the country of residence, the applicant will be required to provide extra evidence of their suitability to look after children. The evidence required depends on the person’s history and what they can supply to show their suitability.
• A certificate of good conduct is the most common form of evidence required where people have lived abroad. The country of origin’s embassy should be able to provide the certificate.
• If a certificate cannot be obtained, a reference from ‘a person of good standing in their community’ from the country in which they lived will be considered. This could be a doctor or lawyer.
• For any DBS queries contact customer services 0300 0200 190

Cost: £49.50

For more information, please visit DBS checks for childminders and childcare workers - GOV.UK

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8 Health declaration booklet

You'll need to complete a Health Declaration Form before applying for Ofsted registration:

• Go to the Health Declaration Form 
• Section A, relevant part of section B and declaration must be completed by you.
• Speak to your GP to fill in Section C, GPs may charge a fee for this.
• Once completed, scan or photograph the document and send with your unique reference number to enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

Cost: Variable - Your doctor will charge for this service (Between £20-150 dependent on GP).

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9 Childminder Application

You then apply online to register as a childminder.

• Go to Become a childminder or nanny (England): Register as a childminder
• Read through and scroll down to register as a childminder and complete the application.
• The cost is £35
• It takes 30 minutes to complete the form.

There are two forms to complete:

• EYC – this is the main application form for registration as a childminder
• EY2 – this is the declaration and consent form and an additional form if you choose to have childminder assistant

Making an application

• The online process guides you through the application. You only need to complete the sections that relate to your childcare. The forms have guidance notes to help you.

  Security:  Access to Ofsted’s online services is managed via the Government Gateway. This is a secure system to protect the data and information you give. You will need to sign up for a Government Gateway account unless you already have one.

  The application forms:  

  Make sure that you, and others associated with your application, complete the forms. Ofsted cannot process your application if the forms have not been completed fully. Others named in your application should complete their EY2 forms using the Ofsted online system.

  It is against the law to knowingly give information that's false or misleading in an application. You can be prosecuted and fined if you do this.

  If you need any help contact Ofsted directly on telephone number: 0300 123 1231.

• When Ofsted acknowledges receiving your application they'll explain how to pay their fee
• Ofsted cannot complete your registration until you have paid the application fee. Please note that the fee is non-refundable.
• Ofsted will arrange to visit you. This is known as a pre-registration visit.

• It is useful to download the Early Years handbook. You'll find it at Childcare Registration Handbook Reference no: 150150.

  Cost: £35 for Early Years and Childcare register £103 for childcare register only

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10 Support paperwork to help with your Ofsted Registration visit

When your Ofsted application is completed online, please read the following. This further support documentation will prepare you for your Ofsted inspection:

Becoming a Childminder

• Family Information Service and Resource Directory Information
• Children's Centre Childminder Flyer
• Safeguarding Children, Policy, Guidance and Procedures
• Useful Contact Numbers
• Ofsted Information Booklet on How to Become a Childminder
• Childminder and Childcare Provider Register with Ofsted

Further Guidance

• Fundamental British Values
• Helping to Prevent Extremism - A Guide to Channel
• Seeking Landlord’s Permission for Childminding

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11 Public Liability Insurance (Cost variable)

• Childminders must carry public liability insurance once registered.
• Childminders will need to pay for their own annual insurance cover. The fee may include membership for additional benefits. These may include online training, and telephone support.
• If you have assistants, you will be classed as an employer. As an employer, you must also hold Employer’s Liability Insurance.
• Local Authority approved insurance companies:
  • Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY): telephone number 0300 003 0005
  • Morton Michel: telephone number 0208 603 0900

Cost: £60-£93 depending on the provider you choose

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12 Ofsted Registration Visit

Ofsted will arrange for an inspector to visit you once:

• all suitability checks have been completed
• the application fee has been paid
• the childminder training has been completed

The inspector will telephone to confirm the time of the visit. Whenever an inspector visits please ask for proof of identity.

The inspector will tell you what you need to have ready when they ring you prior to the registration visit.

Assessing your suitability

• Checking your knowledge of all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage (if you are registering on the early years register). As the registered person you are responsible for:

  • the recruitment of all staff
  • the learning and development
  • the safety of children who attend the setting.
• Checking your premises. The inspector will want to see all the rooms that you intend to use for childminding, and any outdoor space. He or she will ask you:
  • how you have identified and minimised risk to children
  • how you intend to make your premises a suitable learning environment for children.
• Checking furniture, equipment and toys. You'll need to explain to the inspector how you organise your premises and equipment to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. And how you will give the children opportunities to play outside each day.
• In the case of childminder applicants you do not need all of the equipment at the time of the visit. However, you must be able to tell the inspector how you are going to provide it. The equipment must meet the needs of all of the children in your care. You must be able to provide it as soon as you are registered.
• At the end of the visit the inspector will tell you if you're ‘suitable’ or ‘not suitable’ for registration. You can withdraw your application at this stage if you think it is going to be refused.

Grading

Suitable

• Congratulations you are now a registered childminder
• The Harrow Early Years Team are available to support you before Ofsted re-visiting

Not suitable

• Being refused registration disqualifies you from applying in future. It’s important that you have all necessary documentation in place in order for Ofsted to make a decision. This includes:
  • criminal records checks
  • your health declaration
  • a first aid certificate
  • and knowledge of EYFS.

If Ofsted register you, they will send you a registration certificate and tell you how to get information about what will happen next.

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13 You are ready to childmind

• Once you have received your Ofsted Registration Certificate and Public Liability Insurance Certificate you are ready to childmind.

You cannot childmind until you have copies of both these documents.

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14 Harrow Families Information Service (FIS)

• Ofsted notify Harrow FIS of all new registrations.
• FIS will email you a questionnaire. It will ask for details of your vacancies, days, times, and age ranges of children and information relating to the childcare you offer.
• Complete and return this form with your signature (either by post or a scanned email). FIS will then advertise your vacancies/details by telephone, printed list and website.
• You can choose not to advertise your vacancies
• It is your responsibility to keep FIS informed of your vacancies on a regular basis. Let them know any changes to your contact details. If our details are out of date you may miss vital updates.
• Harrow Early Years will contact you via FIS with details of:
  • termly forums
  • annual conferences
  • training
  • industry updates

Contact Families Information Service

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15 Working with parents

You must have a good, professional relationship with parents. When you work together, the results have a positive impact on children’s well-being, development and learning. You are expected to maintain a regular two-way flow of information with parents. You must also provide a progress check for all 2 year olds in your care.

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16 H. M. Customs & Revenue

There are 2 free support tools from HMRC:

• Tax Advice for Childminders
• Budget tool for your Self Assessment tax bill if you're self-employed

 You will need to inform H. M. Customs & Revenue of your childminding business.

• You have up to three months from your first day of childminding in which to register with H. M. Customs & Revenue.
• Failure to do this may incur a penalty charge.
• If you have assistants you will need to register as an employer. This is because any employee must be on your payroll.
• There is advice and guidance relating to HMRC on the Harrow Early Years website. Alternatively you can contact HMRC directly Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm on 0300 123 1083.
• The living wage ensures everyone aged 23 and over receives at least £12.21 an hour (April 2025).
• If you become an employer you should also check your responsibility for pensions auto-enrolment.
• Self Assessment Guidance Webinars

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17 The Inspection visit

• About 30 months after your pre-registration visit, Ofsted will make a follow-up inspection. This is to ensure all that is required is in place, and provide you with an outcome Ofsted grade.

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 18Registering with a childminder agency

A childminder can register with a childminder agency. They will provide a range of services to its childminders and parents. Childminding agencies were introduced by DfE in 2013. They're obliged to provide training, administrative support, marketing, and advice. They carry out assessments of childminders registered with them and provide access to holiday/sickness cover.

• List of childminder agencies
• A guide for childminder agencies
• Further information on joining childminder agency

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 19 Childminder Start Up Grant Scheme from September 2023

The Department for Education (DfE) announced a childminder start-up grants scheme. Recipients must have completed their childminder registration between 15th March 2023 and 31st March 2025 before applying for the grant. Childminders must apply for the grant within 2 months of registering or launch of this scheme. Childminder registered with Ofsted will be offered £600 and for childminders registered with a childminder agency will be offered £1200.

• How to apply for Childminder Start Up Grant

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20 Other considerations

Fire Safety

You can seek advice and general information on fire safety matters from your local fire authority. You will have to meet any recommendations made by your fire authority. For a free home fire safety visit please contact: 0800 0284428 to make an appointment.

Planning permission and building control

You can seek advice on planning permission from the Harrow planning department. You must ensure that the local authority building control and/or planning department is satisfied with the standard of any building work undertaken.

Information Commissioner

If you intend to take photographs of children as part of your ongoing observations, you MUST register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This costs £52 per year.

The ICO has guidance on the restrictions that childminders and childcare providers have on taking and using photographs of children. Further information can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website.

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